Cornet also tested Barty on Thursday, with the Australian having to break her four times and close out a first-set tiebreak.

The second set was much more straightforward for Barty, who will face Belgian world No.18 Kiki Bertens in the quarters.

Meanwhile, Simona Halep ground out a 7-6(9) 4-6 7-5 win over Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova to set up a third-round clash with Williams.

Halep, whose match began on Wednesday but was halted because of rain with Pavlyuchenkova ahead 4-3, returned on Thursday to close out a three-hour battle during which she required treatment for what appeared to be blisters on the bottom of her right foot.

The Romanian world No.1 will have a quick turnaround as she is set to cap the evening session with a battle against seven-time Grand Slam winner Williams, who will also not be fully rested after beating Sorana Cirstea 7-6(4) 6-4 in a match that was postponed from Wednesday.

"I'm little bit dead, to be honest. It's a long time since I played my last match at Wimbledon. I will try to do my best to recover and fight next match," Halep said in her on-court interview.

"She's a champion and it's always difficult to play against her. On hard courts, it's more difficult. I will try to enjoy it and to have a nice atmosphere again." Johanna Konta, who was leading former world No.1 Victoria Azarenka 6-3 3-0 on Wednesday before rain forced an overnight delay, returned to wrap up the match 6-3 6-1.

Up next for the British number one will be a clash with defending champion Elina Svitolina.

US Open champion Sloane Stephens, the third seed, beat Spain's Carla Suarez Navarro 6-2 7-5 to book her spot in the quarter-finals, where she will face Latvia's Anastasija Sevastova, a 6-3 7-6(2) winner over German 10th seed Julia Goerges.